On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at approximately 2:19 a.m., Officers with the New Castle County Division of Police were conducting proactive overnight patrol in Banning Park, located at 102 Middleboro Road in Wilmington, Delaware. While checking the park, officers observed a Honda Ridgeline occupied by two individuals near the dog park area.

As the Officers approached the vehicle, they observed a female occupant getting dressed and a male occupant partially unclothed. The male was later identified as 22-year-old Majdi Jones of Northeast Maryland. The female occupant was later confirmed to be a 12-year-old female.

Due to the nature of the incident, Jones was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit assumed the investigation.

During the investigation, Detectives determined that Jones had been communicating with the victim via social media and had arranged to pick her up at a residence, then drove to Banning Park, where they were subsequently contacted by police.

Following the investigation, Majdi Jones was charged with the following offenses:

• Three felony counts of Rape Third Degree – Victim Less Than 16 Years of Age
• One felony count of Rape Fourth Degree – Victim Less Than 16 Years of Age
•  One misdemeanor count of Trespassing in a County Park After Dark

Majdi Jones was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 02 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $200,100 cash bail.

Majdi Jones – 22

Over the last month, the New Castle County Division of Police has received multiple reports and is investigating several jury duty scams.

Victims are being contacted by phone, text, and email claiming they missed jury duty and now face failure-to-appear or contempt-of-court charges. Scammers pose as law enforcement officers and threaten arrest or jail if money is not sent immediately.

If someone is demanding payment in gift cards, Bitcoin, or cryptocurrency to avoid arrest, it’s a scam. Courts do not accept payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency—only official court procedures and paperwork apply.

Remember: law enforcement and court officials will NEVER demand payment over the phone, by text, by email, via gift cards, or in cryptocurrency.

If you receive a suspicious message, do not engage and report it to your local police agency.

If you believe you missed legitimate jury duty, contact the New Castle County Jury Services Office directly at (302) 255-0824 or jurynewcastle@delaware.gov.

(Newark, DE 19713) On Friday, May 15, 2026, at approximately 10:20 a.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the unit block of Marrows Road in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers learned that 31-year-old Oliver Cephas Jr. had forcibly entered the business and physically confronted an individual. During the incident, Cephas also damaged the tires of another individual’s vehicle before returning to the business and attempting to gain entry a second time. After damaging the business’s door, Cephas forced his way inside, assaulted the individual, stole property, and fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival.

As responding officers arrived in the area, another officer observed Cephas operating a pickup truck and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. Cephas refused to stop and fled at a high rate of speed, eventually escaping from the officer’s sight.

The investigation was subsequently turned over to detectives assigned to the Fugitive Apprehension and Surveillance Team and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

On Monday, May 18, 2026, Detectives located Cephas on Cedar Street in Wilmington and took him into custody. Cephas was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:

• Two felony counts of disregarding a police officer’s signal
• One felony count of Burglary in the Second Degree
• One misdemeanor count of assault in the third degree
• Two misdemeanor counts of Criminal Mischief over $1,000
• One misdemeanor count of Theft Under $1,500
• One misdemeanor count of resisting arrest

Oliver Cephas, Jr., was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $24,000.00 cash bail.

Oliver Cephas, Jr. – 31